Highway Conspiracy Theories

[thspfc]

That I-80 is the "real" longest 2di, because the Chicago Skyway on I-90 does not count, thus breaking it into two separate sections.

Genuine question, what makes the Skyway different from other toll roads?

[thenetwork]

My wife just introduced me to this concept via a conspiracy theory about Belmont Subway in Fresno.  Said underpass structure was completed in 1932 and once carried US 99 to the Belmont Traffic Circle (the first such circle in California incidentally).  Apparently there is a social media video going around claiming a vampire lives in Belmont Subway.  The video claims that the High Speed Rail Authority Authority is demolishing the structure to kill and/or entomb the alleged vampire. 

FWIW Belmont Subway was part of the Fresno Road Meet in 2023.  To my knowledge there was no vampire related incursions.

Edit:  My investigator found the Belmont Subway Vampire video for me.

https://www.tiktok.com/@witchdarktales/video/7310886729601322270?_t=ZT-8uZjjCOKMBC&_r=1

Whew! I'm glad SOMEBODY came up to bat to find the video...

[TheHighwayMan3561]

That I-80 is the "real" longest 2di, because the Chicago Skyway on I-90 does not count, thus breaking it into two separate sections.

Genuine question, what makes the Skyway different from other toll roads?

The alleged problem that led to the "TO I-90" nonsense was that IDOT came to believe the Skyway was never formally submitted as an Interstate highway and thus was never approved to be part of I-90. Even though IDOT themselves still believed and worked under the assumption it was, in fact, still I-90 for that period they pretended it was not.

[US20IL64]

Skyway was in line with I-94/IN Toll Road for a few years, then got swapped with Borman/Calumet/Bishop Ford.

[Henry]

That I-80 is the "real" longest 2di, because the Chicago Skyway on I-90 does not count, thus breaking it into two separate sections.

Genuine question, what makes the Skyway different from other toll roads?

The alleged problem that led to the "TO I-90" nonsense was that IDOT came to believe the Skyway was never formally submitted as an Interstate highway and thus was never approved to be part of I-90. Even though IDOT themselves still believed and worked under the assumption it was, in fact, still I-90 for that period they pretended it was not.

IDOT had nothing to do with the Skyway, that was all the City of Chicago's thinking.

[Molandfreak]

US 13 was numbered in honor of John Raskob's 13 children.

[oscar]

While Interstate H-3 was being built through the Halawa Valley north of Honolulu, there were reports of mysterious things happening to construction equipment, due to a "hewa" (curse) on the highway based on its proximity to native Hawaiian sacred sites. However, all the funny stuff went away after H-3 was completed, along with its sophisticated accident monitoring system due to its relatively remote location.

[english si]

Somehow the UK motorway network is growing despite concrete not being poured.

The length of the network has gone up by 82 miles in the last decade, but we've only built 24.

This is due to more accurate surveying - but unlike Louis XIV's attempt to survey France (the results of which he declared to the surveyors that they lost him more than land than all his enemies) - it gives a larger number than previously thought. And with complaints that we're not building the infrastructure for our growing population, that's politically advantageous...

https://x.com/MichaelDnes1/status/1903357970492117018

[Quillz]

Original CA 13 being renumbered to CA 17. Superstition? Can't find any reason for why it was changed. The original number made sense  as it  conformed to the 1934 numbering logic. 

[Max Rockatansky]

I've never found the reason either.  There was a handful of changes to that 1934 scheme that happened before signage hit the field.  I'm still convinced 740 was being held in reserve for a US Route corridor.

[Quillz]

I've never found the reason either.  There was a handful of changes to that 1934 scheme that happened before signage hit the field.  I'm still convinced 740 was being held in reserve for a US Route corridor.

440 was temporary. Original 44 likely already known it was getting upgraded to US 299. So 440 was likely for the rerouting. But in case plans changed, the 440 was still a fallback. 

But nothing like that for original 13. 

[Max Rockatansky]

I've never found the reason either.  There was a handful of changes to that 1934 scheme that happened before signage hit the field.  I'm still convinced 740 was being held in reserve for a US Route corridor.

440 was temporary. Original 44 likely already known it was getting upgraded to US 299. So 440 was likely for the rerouting. But in case plans changed, the 440 was still a fallback.

But nothing like that for original 13.

It is amusing that 13 ended up being in the same general area eventually via the Warren Freeway.

[Quillz]

I've never found the reason either.  There was a handful of changes to that 1934 scheme that happened before signage hit the field.  I'm still convinced 740 was being held in reserve for a US Route corridor.

440 was temporary. Original 44 likely already known it was getting upgraded to US 299. So 440 was likely for the rerouting. But in case plans changed, the 440 was still a fallback.

But nothing like that for original 13.

It is amusing that 13 ended up being in the same general area eventually via the Warren Freeway.

Which is why I'm curious if superstition had anything to do with the renumbering. 

[LilianaUwU]

There are so many conspiracy theories NUMTOTs love to share about cars that I would need days to compile them all.

[Quillz]

That I-80 is the "real" longest 2di, because the Chicago Skyway on I-90 does not count, thus breaking it into two separate sections.

This is actually true of both CA-1 and US-101. The Golden Gate Bridge is not officially part of either, as it's part of the park system (IIRC). So US-101 officially has two segments: south of the bridge and north of the bridge.

[Quillz]

This might fall into rumor or conspiracy theory, but I heard from somewhere that part of the reason SC 31 / Carolina Bays Pkwy doesn't connect to US 17 was that Burroughs & Chapin, who own a ton of properties in the Myrtle Beach area, were afraid it would draw business away from Myrtle Beach. Or didn't want to lose business, something to that effect.

One of the funny things is people are very hypocritical. If you want to build a bypass around a town, you'll get complaints that the bypass will take away traffic and business. If you don't build a bypass around a town, you'll get complaints that it will bring unwanted traffic (and the proverbial "drugs & crime!") to the town. But build it anyway, then build the bypass later, and watch those same people change their tune.

[Rothman]

That I-80 is the "real" longest 2di, because the Chicago Skyway on I-90 does not count, thus breaking it into two separate sections.

This is actually true of both CA-1 and US-101. The Golden Gate Bridge is not officially part of either, as it's part of the park system (IIRC). So US-101 officially has two segments: south of the bridge and north of the bridge.

Golden Gate is its own authority/district.  Not sure how that would prevent the route designations from going across the bridge.  Certainly doesn't on any other public authority-owned bridge in the country.

[Quillz]

That I-80 is the "real" longest 2di, because the Chicago Skyway on I-90 does not count, thus breaking it into two separate sections.

This is actually true of both CA-1 and US-101. The Golden Gate Bridge is not officially part of either, as it's part of the park system (IIRC). So US-101 officially has two segments: south of the bridge and north of the bridge.

Golden Gate is its own authority/district.  Not sure how that would prevent the route designations from going across the bridge.  Certainly doesn't on any other public authority-owned bridge in the country.

It's considered two discontinuous segments  in California. The bridge is not assigned to either route. 

[NE2]

US 101 is certainly signed on the bridge, so whether or not Caltrans considers it to be part of Route 101 is as relevant as whether Caltrans considers US 395 in Nevada to be part of Route 395.

[Rothman]

That I-80 is the "real" longest 2di, because the Chicago Skyway on I-90 does not count, thus breaking it into two separate sections.

This is actually true of both CA-1 and US-101. The Golden Gate Bridge is not officially part of either, as it's part of the park system (IIRC). So US-101 officially has two segments: south of the bridge and north of the bridge.

Golden Gate is its own authority/district.  Not sure how that would prevent the route designations from going across the bridge.  Certainly doesn't on any other public authority-owned bridge in the country.

It's considered two discontinuous segments  in California. The bridge is not assigned to either route. 

Seems we've come across another conspiracy theory.

[Max Rockatansky]

That I-80 is the "real" longest 2di, because the Chicago Skyway on I-90 does not count, thus breaking it into two separate sections.

This is actually true of both CA-1 and US-101. The Golden Gate Bridge is not officially part of either, as it's part of the park system (IIRC). So US-101 officially has two segments: south of the bridge and north of the bridge.

Golden Gate is its own authority/district.  Not sure how that would prevent the route designations from going across the bridge.  Certainly doesn't on any other public authority-owned bridge in the country.

It's considered two discontinuous segments  in California. The bridge is not assigned to either route. 

Seems we've come across another conspiracy theory.

Never mind the fact that both highways have had signage on the bridge.  AASHTO also overtly recognized the Golden Gate Bridge as part of US 101.

Here is the long form take I did on this:

https://www.gribblenation.org/2021/11/the-legislative-route-gaps-of-us-route.html?m=1

[Quillz]

That I-80 is the "real" longest 2di, because the Chicago Skyway on I-90 does not count, thus breaking it into two separate sections.

This is actually true of both CA-1 and US-101. The Golden Gate Bridge is not officially part of either, as it's part of the park system (IIRC). So US-101 officially has two segments: south of the bridge and north of the bridge.

Golden Gate is its own authority/district.  Not sure how that would prevent the route designations from going across the bridge.  Certainly doesn't on any other public authority-owned bridge in the country.

It's considered two discontinuous segments  in California. The bridge is not assigned to either route. 

Seems we've come across another conspiracy theory.

Its just an interesting quirk in how the route is maintained. It's discontinuous but fully constructed and signed. 

[Rothman]

That I-80 is the "real" longest 2di, because the Chicago Skyway on I-90 does not count, thus breaking it into two separate sections.

This is actually true of both CA-1 and US-101. The Golden Gate Bridge is not officially part of either, as it's part of the park system (IIRC). So US-101 officially has two segments: south of the bridge and north of the bridge.

Golden Gate is its own authority/district.  Not sure how that would prevent the route designations from going across the bridge.  Certainly doesn't on any other public authority-owned bridge in the country.

It's considered two discontinuous segments  in California. The bridge is not assigned to either route. 

Seems we've come across another conspiracy theory.

Its just an interesting quirk in how the route is maintained. It's discontinuous but fully constructed and signed.

You need to read Max's post.

[vdeane]

That I-80 is the "real" longest 2di, because the Chicago Skyway on I-90 does not count, thus breaking it into two separate sections.

This is actually true of both CA-1 and US-101. The Golden Gate Bridge is not officially part of either, as it's part of the park system (IIRC). So US-101 officially has two segments: south of the bridge and north of the bridge.

Golden Gate is its own authority/district.  Not sure how that would prevent the route designations from going across the bridge.  Certainly doesn't on any other public authority-owned bridge in the country.

It's considered two discontinuous segments  in California. The bridge is not assigned to either route. 

Given that it's signed and both FHWA and AASHTO recognize US 101 on the bridge, I'm inclined to consider this to have more in common with the Chicago Skyway (where the local DOT made an oddball judgement that didn't reflect reality) than Yellowstone (where the routes actually don't exist).

[ElishaGOtis]

My wife just introduced me to this concept via a conspiracy theory about Belmont Subway in Fresno.  Said underpass structure was completed in 1932 and once carried US 99 to the Belmont Traffic Circle (the first such circle in California incidentally).  Apparently there is a social media video going around claiming a vampire lives in Belmont Subway.  The video claims that the High Speed Rail Authority Authority is demolishing the structure to kill and/or entomb the alleged vampire. 

FWIW Belmont Subway was part of the Fresno Road Meet in 2023.  To my knowledge there was no vampire related incursions.

Edit:  My investigator found the Belmont Subway Vampire video for me.

https://www.tiktok.com/@witchdarktales/video/7310886729601322270?_t=ZT-8uZjjCOKMBC&_r=1

Whew! I'm glad SOMEBODY came up to bat to find the video...

Ironically the circle is currently being reconstructed for the CA HSR project...

I've never found the reason either.  There was a handful of changes to that 1934 scheme that happened before signage hit the field.  I'm still convinced 740 was being held in reserve for a US Route corridor.

440 was temporary. Original 44 likely already known it was getting upgraded to US 299. So 440 was likely for the rerouting. But in case plans changed, the 440 was still a fallback.

But nothing like that for original 13.

It is amusing that 13 ended up being in the same general area eventually via the Warren Freeway.

Which is why I'm curious if superstition had anything to do with the renumbering.

Wasn't I-11 chosen instead of I-13 for this very reason, especially considering Las Vegas was in the mix?